High-pressure pipe patch



Dec. 27, 1949 I .L J. TlPTON HIGH-PRESSURE PIPE PATCH Filed Oct. 24, 1945 s 1151. I14 I .atented Dec. 27, 1949 I 2;-492,50e12 mensrnessune PIPE mm. Johne-Jzflipton, PanlauKw/nse. Appiicationfletnber 24, 1945," Serial No., 52;,181

5 Chimes. (01438 599): 1 2 This'inventtonirelates to equipment fortthe gasket lt inolosingthe'said opening end dividine repair-of leaks in high pressure ges and-[oil lines thespace*betweemthe pipeend--memberinto-en withouteutting. off; the flow. through. the line; inner chamberendam-outer' chamber. The-gas-- H'eretoiorerno'provisionhas ever-been .madeto ket*is-'l*=shaped in cress section-and its stemis" accomplish such purpose as i831. as appiieant"is- 5 fitted-tight1y-between--a-peir of--eontinuous ininformed,'and t0 accomplishfit' is a greatfdesidere ternalribs 1 of'th'e-memher; the head portion atum'as it'avoids the stoppege of service to'in being engaged -by--theinner-edges-of-said'{ribs' dustrial and household consumers, and I, such", and-*adapted-to he-olamped bythe latter-upon stoppage is espeoialiy disturbing in thewinten; the-pipe; season to those depending on its usezfor, soaking. 16' The patch--member--3 is-equippeekwithen asand heating. bestos'band-=8 fitted =on the outer rib 1;- and is-- My object is not only to provide sleek-moot; offset to accommodate the outer edge; of-thehead peto'h' fore-.leiakingpipe in. a .fieldor oth'er.high+. Ofthia-gasket as a-pr0tection f0r-the latteragainst" pressurelirie, but to incidentally:strengthenethew deterioratiomfrom heat; especially-against heat mm, and; where .itjrests on, soft .grouniistiffen 15 developed when the member is'welded to the pipe the line asga guard. against lsagging;.an.d perhaps ashereinafter expleinede The member?! esprespringing aieakifrom such cause... vided-exter-nahywith'a cup'S fitted in -the open- With the objects setforthinnview,,thcjnyem ing'fii and said*cupmonstitutesemintegral-:parttio'n consists, in certain novel hnduseiuifeatures...v fthe-amember as itis pe m n ly Securedof oonstructionand orgeniz'ationpf. parts as hBIB-s 2 e P fmb y'-by sl W a ng-the cup iriafter described ,andclaimed; andjmorder that both} internally y o th 'm mberx it may, be fully understood; reference .is ,to be; The -cup h'as =a, circular =series -of bottom' =periohade'to the accompanying drawings, in which; rations I I; through-which:- gas or: oil 1 escaping:

Figure l ise fragmentary .elevationaLyiewoiai from the piped; atLthedeak-point'thereof; pipeequipped withaieak-proof jattachmentempw' 'enter the cup when the membereisifittedi to-the; biodying the invention. pipe.= Assmore oniessdangeris entaiIedin re- Figure ,2 is. an.enlarged,fragmentahlongitudinal. pairing-othepi-peeby uapplication.:theretowithi gas section. of the pipe;and 1eakproof. patch equipw underrhighopressurei.flowingethrougmthe pipei ment .as shown by Figure 1,. thesection;being onu line, anh'oodr'im may. besemployed ito -incloseethe the line 11-11 of Figure.3.. cup andie:- provided withn am openinga Wa in Figure. 3 is; .a. fragmented .centrai.,cross seetiem which: is 'secured-=a.- pipe-l la; whereby :gas :pass-e on the same scale as Figure 2. v ing through-the cupinto.theuhood;is:disolherged Figure, 4 .is .an end ..view. on awreducedxseaie of intorthetetmosphere ate-point. relatively remote; the pipe with the construction as -,shown1:in -,the,=: fr'om :the =member -towguard againstithe:chanoe precedingviews slightlymodified at theside edges, of-explosion in thetvioinityof. the spatohnapplyingcof the patch and equipped with a, reinforci g: operatives member for stiffening the pipe-iineetztheeiunce As showntheshood isdetachebieirom theicup tion-of the pipe withabutting pipes. of thedine; being: screwed thereon: as showno by Figure-5: Figure 5 is a section taken on-the-same linees: Within thehooddsescrewplugqiipwhictrinitieily-i Figure2 but wi h the cup provided:'wi hzaizhoodas isiserewednpantwayiintoith cup=,-. Th epmgihas;

provided with a Wrench for the adjufitmentioi n a bottom recess IT and passages l8 runningvfroms thescrewplug, andwith a pipe for-conducting; the recess to theperimeter;andaiso hasessquare fluid to a. safe point for discharge. stemoonvhendle: l8a-;for:.-detechable: engegementi Referring nowto the drawing indetail, I aiszav. ,103. assocket'wrench ilBboextending..intoethehood pipe f high-pressure 1ine:f0r gas,.or;0i-1-,;..ande through a packingngland: ltic-secured.in.:theutop:v 21represents a crack or otherrleak point min; the;: 0f.-the:h00d:;. By IOtIQtiAOm'OfFZthB wrenchgitheiplug pipe ,to be closed to the escape.0f'fluid;.0r-.t0:bea1 may-:beturnedio:moveidownward-finom'theiposieutilized for supplying,to--a.; branoh.-.1ine;;auditor; ti'on-shown by'Figure faetolthe:positiom shown bw accomplish either purpose the following equipu Figilressflilandiii. W'hennin then-p0SiGiOn.u.Sh0Wno mentjris: employed; A=.substantiallwsemiecylinby-Figure 5,' the passages lfl establish communn. drieal member 3 of size and-form to-spamtheileake catio11--betweenthe =cup--and the hood end the point, is adapted toibefitted on the-pipegandhasx plug forms =noimpediment to the- =esoape of gas: inturned margins A to: contact the pipei It hasfrom-the-- p ipes When theerrangement is-asdean opening fi 'and at its :innenside has en annular fl-i scribed -the marginal edges Moi th'e member-3 are welded and as such operation is completed, the wrench is manipulated to screw the plug down until arrested by the bottom of the cup and the passages I8 are closed by the wall of the cup and thus ofier an impediment to the escape of fluid from the leak-point of the pipe. To insure a complete and dependable arrest of the fluid, the plug is equipped with a lead gasket I9 of ring form to close the bottom perforations of the cup, and to minimize wear on the said gasket as the plug is turned, the upper ends of said perforations are flared or countersunk.

The member 3 is equipped with a pressure gage I4 and a pressure relief valve I5, the former communicating with the interior space surrounded by the gasket 6, and the valve with the space exterior to the said gasket. When the member is first fitted to the leaking pipe, it is firmly clamped by any suitable means in place. The escape of fluid is then out 01f as explained, and if the gage indicates an undesirable build-up of pressure because the cup perforations are not sufi'iciently numerous or large, the member will be replaced with one of greater escape capacity.

When assured that a member is of proper escape capacity, fluid is permitted to escape and the margins of the member welded in place. The Welding operation generates heat and expansion of air in the chamber between the gasket 6 and the margins of the member, which results in an air expansion which may be sufiiciently great to impair the marginal weld. To guard against such result the pressure relief valve is employed.

In applications where the condition of the ground is such as to afiord an unreliable support under a pipe that has sprung a leak and is repaired by the patch member described, it is desirable to stifien the line by providing a housing for the leaking area overlying the unfirm ground.

To accomplish this, a second semi-cylindrical member 20 (Figure 4) is disposed under the pipe and welded at its side margins to the side margins of member 3, the end margins of member 20 being sloped to contact with the pipe as at 2I, and welded thereto as at 22.

Where a pipe is to be completely housed around the broken or defective area as suggested, the lower or side margins of member 3, are preferably not sloped and are adapted to squarely abut the similar opposing or upper edges of member 20, and be welded thereto as shown at 23, and in this case to facilitate the proper adjustment of the two members in abutting relation, one member is provided with a strap or straps 24 of slightly curved form to guide the member 20 in abutting relation to member 3. The welding of the two members together and the welding of the end margins of member 20 to the pipe, is to reinforce the welds I3 uniting the member 3 to the pipe, which a tendencyof the pipe tosag, might crack or weaken.

In the operation of welding the member 3 when high-pressure gas particularly, is flowing through the line, electric arc welding is employed as it minimizes the danger of an explosion.

From the above description considered in conjunction with the drawing, it will be apparent that I have produced a repair patch equipment of simple character possessing the advantages desirable for repairing defective pipes in highpressure lines without interfering with continued flow therethrough, as set forth in the statement of the objects of the invention, and while I have disclosed a practical construction, it is obvious that it may be modified without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

a chamber between it and the pipe, a gasket sealing the joint between said member and pipe, and an outlet opening in communication with the leaking area of the pipe, a cup secured with a fluid-tight joint to the member around the said opening thereof, and open to the passage of fluid escaping from the pipe at the leak point thereof, means carried by the cup to close said cup against fluid escape, and means engaged with the cup for receiving the fluid from the cup when the cup is open.

2'. A repair patch for a leaking pipe in a highpressure pipe line, comprising a member fitting pipe around the leaking point thereof and providing a chamber into which the leak point opens, and having an outlet opening for said chamber accessible to fluid passing from the pipe through the leak point; the said member having annular ribs at its inner side, running around the area of the pipe containing the leak point, a compressible gasket secured beamember fitted upon around the leak outlet tube, means adjustable in the cup for permitting fluid to pass from the gasket chamber into the hood or to close the flow of such fluid into the cup, and means for eifecting adjustment of the first-named means from a point exterior to the hood.

5. A repair patch for a leaking pipe comprising a member fitted upon and secured to the pipe leak point thereof and providing a chamber between it and the pipe, a gasket sealing the joint between the member and pipe, and

an outlet opening in communication with the leaking area of the pipe, a cup secured with a fluid-tight joint to the member around the said opening thereof, and open to the passage of fluid escaping from the pipe at the leak point thereof, a hood enclosing the cup and provided with an outlet tube, means adjustable in the cup for permitting fluid to pass from the gasket chamber into the hood or to close the flow of such fluid into the cup, a socket wrench extending into the hood, and a pressure release valve in communication with the chamber between the member and the pipe exterior to the gasket.

JOHN J. TIPTON.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 210,422 Hayes Dec. 3, 1878 732,400 Dresser June 30, 1903 763,191 Marvin June 21, 1904 1,510,394 Frazier Sept. 30, 1924 1,662,852 De La Mare Mar. 20, 1928 1,844,159 Hamer Feb. 9, 1932 2,002,577 Ice May 28, 1935 2,210,046 Schubring Aug. 6, 1940 2,286,751 Merrill June 16, 1942 

